Roberto Durán Picks His Next World Champion

Roberto Durán has reportedly picked Luis Reynaldo Nuñez to become a world champion. 

Durán was ringside earlier this month at the Hotel El Panamá to witness the 26-year-old Dominican stop Jhan Estiven Camacho in the first round. Roberto Durán Jr. was in Nuñez’s corner for the fight, working alongside head coach Bob Santos. Santos, who has guided the likes of Erislandy Lara and Robert Guerrero, noted that having the elder Durán watch from the front row added an immense level of pressure that Nuñez handled with ease. Santos recalled Durán’s reaction.

“He really enjoyed looking at Nunez up close, and he said, ‘That kid has some explosive hand speed and power. No doubt in my mind that he is going to be a world champion’. Who better to know than [Duran]?,” Santos said 

Nunez Reacts

Nuñez and his team have officially set their sights on WBO Champion Rafael Espinoza. Espinoza is currently the consensus #1 at 126 lbs following his back-to-back masterclasses against Robeisy Ramírez. Nunez has also set his sights on making history by becoming a Dominican Republic champion.

“My grandparents actually raised me, and I had a lot of trouble convincing them that I wanted to box and would get punished all of the time when my grandparents would find out that I went into the boxing gym/. I just liked boxing better. I also had a lot of friends who boxed as well, so that’s why I chose to box as opposed to playing baseball. It wasn’t until I won a medal one time that I brought home that my grandparents actually realized that I was doing good.

“One of my former trainers went to my grandparents and told them, ‘Listen, your grandson has talent. Let him box.’ That’s how my grandparents were convinced to let me box. I will be a proud world champion from the Dominican Republic. I also want to improve the economic situation of my grandparents and parents who have given everything to me without asking for anything in return,” Nunez said